Planning a cruise to the Caribbean? Check out these Caribbean cruise tips to help you make the most of your time in the Caribbean + some general tips for cruising the Caribbean!
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1. Plan for Hot Weather
It is hot in the Caribbean about 11 months of the year. It is just warm that last month. Plan accordingly.
Regardless of the season of the year you need shorts, t-shirts and sandals. In the winter you might want a light jacket because it gets windy, but plan for it to be hotter than you expect.
Check out Why Winter Is The Best Time For a Caribbean Cruise and What To Pack For A Caribbean Cruise In The Winter
2. The sun is fierce
Bring a hat. Or three. Make sure you have your hat with you for embarkation day because the sun is intense even from the embarkation ports.
Large hats can be very bulky to pack, but it should be a packing priority no matter the season. Either wear your hat while you are traveling to get onto the ship or get a folding hat to reduce the space in your luggage. Check out my favorite folding hat here.
3. Pick an itinerary that includes one of the private islands
The private islands for the cruise lines are one of the best experiences you can have on a cruise. You spend your day relaxing on a beach without paying any money, without worrying about transportation or people trying to sell you things on the beach. There are free food and drinks. The beach is free, the transportation is free, the food is free. What more can you ask for?
The private islands are one of the highlights of cruising the Caribbean. But is it worth picking a cruise line based on the private island? Probably not. There are aspects of certain private islands I prefer over others, but any of them make a much better beach day than a typical port.
4. Some ports are better than others
Ports in the Caribbean are not all created equal. Cozumel is a great port – we’ve been there about 5 times and done something different each time. And we enjoyed everything we have ever done in Cozumel. Nassau, on the other hand, is hardly worth getting off the ship. We’ve actually gotten off the ship about 5 times (we’ve stayed on about that many) and have only managed to be entertained twice.
That said, sometimes Nassau or other less interesting ports are included in an itinerary that includes other more appealing ports. This is not a reason not to book the cruise. Just be aware that not all ports are equal. Some ports you can walk off the ship on your own and do tons of things for free. There are other ports where you basically have to purchase an excursion to be able to do anything interesting. And there are some ports where there are very limited numbers of excursions or the excursions are super expensive. None of this should be a deal-breaker, just do a little research on your ports before you book.
5. Embrace the Tropical
This is what many cruises and their cruise ships were designed for. Embrace the outdoor spaces. Find the spaces on the ship made to look out at sea. Most cruise ships have a variety of spaces for everyone. From interior spaces with sweeping vistas, sunny spots full of deck chairs and quiet shady spaces tucked away in corners, there are plenty of places to view the ocean.
6. Take water-based excursions
Though there are some great historic forts and some interesting examples of colonial architecture scattered through the Caribbean, this is the time for water based excursions. Try snorkeling, a beach or even just a boat ride to enjoy the beautiful vistas the Caribbean has to offer. Most Caribbean islands are very small and water is almost everywhere you look. This is a time to take advantage of easy opportunities to try new and different activities in and around the ocean!
7. Enjoy!
The most important of the Caribbean cruise tips is to enjoy yourself! Embrace the heat and sun! Spend your time swimming and try to avoid being out in the heat of the day. Drink plenty of water in addition to whatever else you want to drink. Enjoy a beautiful beach or the lounge chair on your cruise ship. It’s your vacation – spend it how you want.
What to read next for more Caribbean Cruise Tips:
Planning on snorkeling in the Caribbean? Check out what is the Best Snorkel To Take On A Cruise!
Trying to book your room? Check out the Best Cruise Cabins For…It’s probably not the cabin you’re expecting!
Questioning if you’re ready to cruise at all? Check out 8 Reasons To Cruise This Year!
